In a collision of two schools that like to deploy their running games, Coach Jason Candle and the Toledo Rockets (+10) will be taking on their conference nemesis Central Michigan Chippewas (-10) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff for this key game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Toledo Rockets
In this Friday Mid-American matchup, Central Michigan is projected as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 10 points. The Rockets are also receiving +290 moneyline odds while the Chippewas are -370. This MAC tilt should provide several decent in-game betting scenarios, and Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 65 points.
Both of these teams have rewarded gamblers this season as the Rockets have gained 1.1 units while the Chippewas are ahead 5.5 units.
The Rockets are 6-5 straight up (SU), including 3-4 SU against MAC opponents. The Chippewas are 7-4 SU overall and 5-2 SU in conference play.
Toledo enters this one on a two-game winning streak while Central Michigan has come up short in each of its last two. The Rockets fell to Buffalo 49-30 in a thumping where the Rockets completed 16-of-34 passes for 248 yards and one interception. Eli Peters went 10-for-17 for 163 yards and one interception while Carter Bradley completed six-of-17 for 85 yards. Bryant Koback (99 yards on 17 rushes, one TD) and Shakif Seymour (35 yards on 10 carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the loss while Danzel McKinley-Lewis (four receptions, 88 yards) and Desmond Phillips (three catches, 19 yards) manned the receiving duties.
Central Michigan just earned a 45-44 win over Ball State a couple of weeks ago. The Chippewas defense let the Cardinals run for 231 yards on 47 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Walter Fletcher was a bright spot in the loss, recording 115 rushing yards on 15 attempts for Ball State. For Central Michigan, Quinten Dormady completed 27-of-38 passes for 356 yards and one interception. Jonathan Ward (105 rushing yards on 24 attempts, four TDs) handled the ground game in the win while JaCorey Sullivan (seven receptions, 85 yards) and Kalil Pimpleton (seven catches, 85 yards) led the receiving attack.
Toledo has run the ball on 61.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Central Michigan has an overall rush percentage of 52.7 percent. The Rockets have produced 237.4 rush yards/game (including 223.1 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 26 scores via handoffs this year. The Chippewas are putting up 185.4 rushing yards per game (199.6 in conference) and have 28 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then the Chippewas may have the more disruptive lines up front. Their offensive line has given up just 15 sacks while their D-line has registered 23 sacks. The Rockets O-line has allowed 25 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss on just 15 occasions.
The Rockets offensive scheme has logged 212.9 yards/game through the air overall (215.9 per game against conference opposition) and has 15 passing TDs so far. The Chippewas have produced 258.8 pass yards per contest (310 in the MAC) and have 16 total pass scores.
Defensively, Toledo has allowed 211.1 rush yards and 257.6 pass yards per game. The Central Michigan defense has allowed 245.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 122.0 yards per game on the ground. The Chippewas are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.43 to opponents, while the Rockets have given up a 7.41 ANY/A.
Offensively, Peters has amassed 528 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 54 percent of his 67 attempts with three scores through the air and three interceptions. He has a 6.19 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.83 over the past two games.
In the other locker room, Quinten Dormady has connected on 120-of-184 passes for 1,378 yards, eight TDs and five INTs. Dormady’s ANY/A stands at 6.57 for the season and 10.30 across his past two outings.
When these two teams faced each other a year ago, Toledo won easily 51-13.
Toledo Rockets vs. Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Pick
SU Winner: Central Michigan, ATS Winner: Central Michigan, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Toledo’s last game was set at 53.5. The over cashed in the team’s 49-30 defeat to Buffalo.
- Toledo, as a team, has rushed for 5.2 yards per attempt over its past three games and 5.0 over its last two.
- Central Michigan has averaged 4.5 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.1 over its last two.
- Central Michigan has lost 15 fumbles this season while Toledo has lost 12.
- In its last three games, Toledo is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Central Michigan’s last game going into it was 60. The over cashed in the 45-44 win over Ball State.
- In its last three matches, Central Michigan is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- Central Michigan has won six of its last seven games SU, with a -23-point defeat to Buffalo on October 26th accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
- The Rockets offense has registered eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Chippewas have put up six such plays.
- The Toledo defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Central Michigan has given up seven such plays.
- The Toledo offense has created 24 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Central Michigan has created 13 such runs.
- The Rockets defense has allowed 27 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Chippewas have given up 10 such runs.
- The Central Michigan D has recorded 23 sacks on the year while Toledo has just 15.
